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President Donald Trump has said that Iran could possibly be open to direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, tensions between the US and Iran have escalated over Iran’s nuclear program, with American officials now warning that Tehran is extremely close to acquiring a nuclear weapon. Intelligence assessments indicate that Iran is producing enough highly enriched uranium—well above levels needed for civilian use—to build a bomb within weeks. Despite mounting pressure, Iranian officials have refused to engage in direct talks with the US until President Trump lifts new sanctions imposed under his “maximum pressure” campaign. While all this has been going on, the US has been repositioning a shitload of military assets to the region, including the deployment of at least six B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, a remote island base in the Indian Ocean. Analysts say these bombers would be critical in any potential strike on Iran’s deeply buried nuclear & military sites—which are massive, underground facilities carved into mountains that would require lots of specialized bunker-buster bombs to even attempt to destroy them.
What’s going on now: While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump suggested that Iran may now be open to direct negotiations with the United States, despite Iran’s public claims that it won’t talk until sanctions are lifted. Trump, appearing confident, said he believes direct talks are more efficient and could move faster than using mediators. His comments come just weeks after he issued an ultimatum to Iran’s leadership: come to the table within two months or face military consequences.
Trump has openly said that if Iran doesn’t “make a deal, there will be bombing—the likes of which they’ve never seen before.”
So what is Trump looking for?: Trump has been clear that he wants a far more complete deal than the 2015 agreement, which he withdrew from during his first term. This time, he’s not only demanding a full halt to uranium enrichment but also the dismantling of Iran’s entire nuclear infrastructure, which Iran has said is not going to happen.
Russia defends Iran: With all this going on, Russia has condemned Trump’s rhetoric and the US military buildup, calling it illegal and dangerously provocative. The Kremlin has warned that any strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities—especially those buried deep underground—could lead to an “irreversible global catastrophe.”
Russian officials added, “The use of military force by Iran’s opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable.”
